Travel Dust
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Lisbon, Portugal (by acampm1)
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“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.”— Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981 (via emotional-algebra)
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San Antonio
Zambales -
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Shakespeare
And this was the stream I was referring to here that I had to cross. I crossed at the narrower - and shallower, area though. First time ever to sea a sand bank like this too! No words to describe it and my photo really does it no justice. I hope they don’t develop along this line because it’ll ruin it…
before an early morning flight. I was supposed to leave for the airport around 430 am today. I took a shower, finished packing, and was ready to go by 230. But, I thought it was too early to go since I already checked-in online, and I really wouldn’t know where to sleep at the airport. So I sat down on the couch, set 3 alarms on 2 devices, and took a nap. When I woke up it was still very dark so I was like, “Crap. What time is it? I have to call a cab.” It was 6am. My flight was at 625am.
I am a no show. And super broke. My travel insurance clearly can’t cover this one. I wish travel insurances would let you pay premium to cover missing flights for reasons such as this.
I also had three farewells last night that’s why I was up and ready to go by 230. And then I’m still here. That was pretty awkward when my friends woke up and found me still in the house. I really should’ve followed my instinct and went straight to the airport. *face palm*
ps:
Now that I’m thinking about it, if I went to the airport around 230am, I still would’ve fallen asleep somewhere in the terminal. But I would’ve made it for boarding…except check-in.
Tribal beach wedding at Pulau Manukan. This was amazing!!! We were supposed to go to another island but some of us - including me, ended up watching this. The bride, who probably comes from one of the ethnic tribes, and her groom (I heard he’s Australian but looks mixed, or he’s just really tanned) were in traditional ethnic clothes. There was also a tribal dance and ritual performed. The attire kind of reminded me of the Badjaos of Mindanao. I googled and found out there’s a Bajau tribe in KK/Sabah. Probably related, eh?
It was also my first time to see a tribal wedding. Funny it’s, in a modern setting with Caucasian guests. I don’t know how legit the dances - and dancers, music, and rituals were but it was too cool! The male dancers had bolos and performed a bamboo dance similar to tinikling among other dances they did. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos of the whole thing. This was the only decent photo my friend took that showed a hint of what the bride and groom were wearing. We actually moved up to the front of the fenced area and watched the whole thing from there.
Oddly, some time before the bride & groom entered - and while we were lying down peacefully on the sand, the reception was playing Anak by Freddie Aguilar. I know there are a lot of Filipinos in KK, but really? Anak at a wedding? LOL!
ps: two/three of us thought of crashing the wedding & pretend to be guests hahaha
Cheaper than expected!!
at Pulau Mamutik, Kota Kinabalu
Masskara Festival 2006
First time to attend a Philippine festival and almost did not make it because Dad wouldn’t let me go. I told him it was for AIESEC’s NPM conference and not Masskara - he still thinks I just went there for the Masskara lol. It just happened to be the same time as Masskara.
The conference delegates wanted to watch the main parade and the meeting chair couldn’t do anything about it because we could hear and see - I couldn’t see coz my back was turned against the windows, the parade from the hall’s windows. There was also word going around that Piolo Pascual (or was it Sam Milby) was in town for the festival and some of the ladies wanted to see him. While we were holding a session, there was someone who suddenly exclaimed “Piolo!” (or “Sam?”) and then one of the male delegates - an all-around straight male guy who has cousins in showbiz, ran to the window, crunched down, and exclaimed “Nasaan? Nasaan??” (Where? Where??) Totally unexpected and outright hilarious. He was even shocked he did it. Classic! =)))
A trip of many firsts.
The first time I was ever, EVER allowed to travel with anyone other than family for reasons beyond school was for my friend’s graduation celebration in Boracay…WITH her parents. My friend had a deal with her parents that when they go to Boracay she has to take a friend, aka me, along. There was no way my parents could say no to this.
The first and only time in Boracay. I fell in love with the sunset, stared at the sky, enjoyed the water - I was swimming until before we left, and was clearly amazed by the sand. It’s as white as they say it is and it doesn’t burn your feet even at high noon! The garbage around the alleys and streets of the main station/town center was, however, disenchanting. I heard they’re cleaning it up now.
The first time I was treated by someone other than family to a vacation. All I had to pay for was my plane fare, which Mabuhay Miles covered one-way. Super duper thank you, Tito & Tita!
The first time to snorkel. I often go to the beach with my family but I never snorkeled. They made me miss out on this?? Boooo! hehe. I think it was also my friend’s first time and she wouldn’t let go of the rope LOL!!! My goggles were faulty so I had to keep coming up to let the water out. In fairness, I still found Nemo!!!
First time to have drinks with Bugay (not her real name). I’ve known her for ages but I don’t know why we’ve never had a drink together! We drank cocktails at our resort’s beach hut and I think she got tipsy…after one drink. HAHA! We were lying down in the hut and digging our feet in the sand. I took my feet out and brought it up to cross my legs. She then suddenly raised her feet up in the air and got sand all over us. And my PHP175 DRINK* whose name I cannot remember (even that night). It was such a good drink! Good times! :))
First and only time to try Sex on the Beach - the cocktail (mabuti nang malinaw). I didn’t like it. Bleh. Maybe the resort’s mix was bad but it was still bleh.
First time to get a massage from a local, i.e. not a hotel/resort employee. It wasn’t the best setting because the masseuse kept whispering instructions to the other masseuse but it was a good one. It was at one of the houses beside the resort. They offer food, boat tours, and massage at rates cheaper than the resort’s so we always ate there and availed of their services. The main house was actually a fusion of rustic, modern, and native and they rent out bed spaces (dorm style) during peak season. If I were paying, I’d stay there!
First time to chit-chat with locals. We found out that the families living beside the resort where we stayed owns the resort’s land. Their grandmother signed a 25-year contract to lease the land and some of them now work for the resort. I got the feeling they were not too happy about the lease. On the bright side for them, it wasn’t sold. It was interesting to know local info and feelings toward development, especially in a paradise like theirs.
First and hopefully not the last time to travel with Bugay. I have to wait for her to get married to do so again. Pakasal na kasi! :))
ps: It rained when we were waiting at the jetty to leave. That’s lucky for going to Boracay - or any beach, during typhoon season :D
When & Where: Independence Day Weekend, 9-12 June 2006. Boracay, Philippines.
*Super splurge for me back then.
The Japanese Embassy co-presented this cultural show last night at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). It was my first time to see a Nihon Buyo and a live Kabuki performance, and I actually almost didn’t make it! I thought the event will be held at the Nanyang Tech University (NTU) in Jurong and not in Bugis because when I read the invite all that stuck to my head was Nanyang, which I know is near my place in Boon Lay. So after a party in Commonwealth - around 20 min from NAFA, I went back to Boon Lay and sent an SMS to my friend if she can pass by me on her way there. She then told me she was already in Bugis - 50 min away from my place, where NAFA is!!! For some reason I thought that NAFA was also inside NTU because where I come from each place and school has IT’S OWN DISTINCT NAME THAT TELLS YOU WHERE IT IS!! I didn’t even bother to check that it was a different school in a different location!!! *palm on face*
I’m such a ditz here in Singapore. I swear the country’s roads, bus system and names of places are messing with my great sense of direction! Anyhow, it was a pretty interesting and slightly funny show haha! Lesson also learned. LOLz
